Items are the building blocks of all orders. They represent a grouping of variants called Item Variants.
Examples of items include: T-shirt, Mug, Poster, etc.
![Screen Shot 2021-12-10 at 10.13.13 AM.png 772](https://files.readme.io/0de958f-Screen_Shot_2021-12-10_at_10.13.13_AM.png)
Item Variants are unique versions of a product, made distinct by a combination of Color and Size options. Examples of item variants are: Red XL T-shirt, 11oz White Mug.
![Screen Shot 2021-12-10 at 10.18.51 AM.png 982](https://files.readme.io/56bfa56-Screen_Shot_2021-12-10_at_10.18.51_AM.png)
Orders are created by sending a list of Line Items which point to an Item Variant and a list of Print Areas. In the example below, a single order contains two line items. Each line item points to an item variant, the first containing two print areas (ie. a T-shirt with a front and back design), and the second contains one print area (ie. a poster with a single design).
![Screen Shot 2021-12-10 at 10.19.39 AM.png 1534](https://files.readme.io/c49f0e3-Screen_Shot_2021-12-10_at_10.19.39_AM.png)
Each Item contains a list of available Print Areas. The optional and required print areas for each item variant can differ. For example, a 24x36 poster item variant requires that a 24x36
print area be passed, while all t-shirt variants can accept front
and/or back
print areas.
See the Dreamship Catalog for more information on print area keys and relevant templates.
![Screen Shot 2021-12-10 at 10.23.56 AM.png 626](https://files.readme.io/9a31b6d-Screen_Shot_2021-12-10_at_10.23.56_AM.png)
Products and Product Variants can be thought of "designed" Items and Item Variants. They are the building blocks for building customized digital inventory.
![Screen Shot 2021-12-10 at 10.28.17 AM.png 1076](https://files.readme.io/fe43e59-Screen_Shot_2021-12-10_at_10.28.17_AM.png)
Products can be created through the Dreamship app designer and referenced later for Order fulfillment, without needing to pass in Print Area data again.
![Screen Shot 2021-12-10 at 10.29.23 AM.png 1024](https://files.readme.io/15dfc38-Screen_Shot_2021-12-10_at_10.29.23_AM.png)